Social Identity Groups
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Handout courtesy of The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) at the University of Michigan
Social identity groups are based on the physical, social, and mental characteristics of individuals.
They are sometimes obvious and clear, sometimes not obvious and unclear, often self claimed and
frequently ascribed by others. For example, racial groupings are often ascribed as well as selfclaimed. Government, schools, and employers often ask an individual to claim a racial identity
group or simply ascribe one to an individual based on visual perception. Other social identities are
personally claimed but not often announced or easily visually ascribed such as sexual orientation,
religion, or disability status. For the purpose of this self-examination please identify the
memberships you claim or those ascribed to you. Below are examples of social identity groupings.
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Gender
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Sex
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Race
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Ethnicity
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Examples
(Feel free to use your own language for your identities.)
Woman, Man, Transgender, Post-Gender, etc.
Intersex, Female, Male, etc.
Asian Pacific Islander, Native American, Latin@, Black, White,
Bi/Multiracial, etc.
Irish, Chinese, Puerto Rican, Italian, Mohawk, Jewish,
Guatemalan, Lebanese, European-American, etc.
Sexual Orientation/
Attractionality
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pan-Attractional, Heterosexual, Queer,
Questioning, etc.
Religion/Spirituality
Faith/Meaning
Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Pagan, Agnostic,
Atheist, Secular Humanist, etc.
Social Class
Poor, Working Class, Lower-Middle Class, Upper-Middle Class,
Owning Class, Ruling Class, etc.
Age
Child, Young Adult, Middle-Age Adult, Elderly, etc.
(Dis)Ability
People with disabilities (cognitive, physical, emotional, etc.),
Temporarily able-bodied, Temporarily disabled, etc.
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Nation(s) of Origin
and/or Citizenship
United States, Nigeria, Korea, Turkey, Argentina, etc.
Tribal or Indigenous
Affiliation
Mohawk, Aboriginal, Navajo, Santal, etc.
Body Size/ Type
Fat, Person of Size, Underweight, Thin, etc.
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Target Group: social identity groups that are disenfranchised and exploited
Agent Group: social identity groups that hold unearned privileged in society
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Social Identity Profile
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SOCIAL
IDENTIT
Y
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GROUP
MEMBE
RSHIP
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Has
Has
Has
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most abou on how on how effect
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on
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n
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g
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and
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y
SLC’s
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!
(Pick
Two)
Gender
Sex
Race
Ethnicity
Sexual
Orientatio
n/
Attraction
ality
Religion/
Spiritualit
y/Faith/
Meaning
Social
Class
Age
(Dis)Abili
ty
www.adamfalknerarts.com
Nation(s)
of Origin
and/or
Citizenshi
p
Body size/
type
Additional
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